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Captain Marvel (DC Comics)

Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (February 1940). With a premise that taps adolescent fantasy, Captain Marvel is the alter ego of Billy Batson, a youth who works as a radio news reporter and was chosen to be a champion of good by the wizard Shazam. Whenever Billy speaks the wizard's name, he is struck by a magic lightning bolt that transforms him into an adult superhero empowered with the abilities of six archetypal figures.[1] Several friends and family members, most notably Marvel Family cohorts Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr., can share Billy's power and become "Marvels" themselves.

Hailed as "The World's Mightiest Mortal" in his adventures, Captain Marvel was nicknamed "The Big Red Cheese" by arch-villain Doctor Sivana, an epithet later adopted by Captain Marvel's fans. Based on sales, Captain Marvel was the most popular superhero of the 1940s, as his Captain Marvel Adventures comic book series sold more copies than Superman and other competing superhero books during the mid-1940s.[2][3] Captain Marvel was also the first comic book superhero to be adapted to film, in a 1941 Republic Pictures serial titled Adventures of Captain Marvel.

Fawcett ceased publishing Captain Marvel-related comics in 1953, due in part to a copyright infringement suit from DC Comics alleging that Captain Marvel was an illegal infringement of Superman. In 1972, DC licensed the Marvel Family characters and returned them to publication, acquiring all rights to the characters by 1991. DC has since integrated Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family into their DC Universe, and have attempted to revive the property several times. However, Captain Marvel has not regained widespread appeal with new generations, although a Shazam! live-action Saturday morning television series featuring the character ran for three seasons on CBS in the 1970s.

Because Marvel Comics trademarked their Captain Marvel comic book during the interim between the original Captain Marvel's Fawcett years and DC years, DC Comics is unable to promote and market their Captain Marvel/Marvel Family properties under that name. Since 1972, DC has instead used the trademark Shazam! as the title of their comic books and thus the name under which they market and promote the character. Consequently, Captain Marvel himself has often been referred to as "Shazam", leading to DC to rename the character as such with their "New 52" relaunch in 2012. Captain Marvel was ranked as the 55th greatest comic book character of all time by Wizard magazine.[4] IGN also ranked Captain Marvel as the 50th greatest comic book hero of all time stating that Captain Marvel will always be an enduring reminder of a simpler time.[5] UGO Networks also placed him as one of the top heroes of entertainment quoting, "At his best, Shazam has always been Superman with a sense of crazy, goofy fun, to wit."

Status

Occupation: Formerly employed as a radio announcer. Formerly Keeper of the Rock of Eternity

Education: Former High School Student

Characteristics

Gender: Male

Height: 162.56 cm (as Billy); 188 cm (as Captain Marvel)

Weight: 57 kg (as Billy); 113.4 kg (as Captain Marvel)

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Black, (Formerly White)

Unusual Features: None; formerly when in Captain Marvel form, Billy changes his physical from his true age as teenager to a fully adult human male.

Origin

Origin: Orphan Billy Batson met the wizard Shazam and was granted the powers of Captain Marvel. With the death of the Wizard Shazam, Batson was granted powers which may have been even greater than that of the wizard. The Wizard Shazam's later return in the form of a spirit bore witness to the choice made by Batson to support his sister and an evil acolyte known as Black Adam, Billy was stripped of all powers and abilities, making him an ordinary teenager once again.

Universe: New Earth

Place of Birth: Fawcett City

History

Captain Marvel is the World's Mightiest Mortal. Originally, he was a orphaned boy named Billy Batson, who was chosen by the wizard Shazam to be a champion of good. Shazam gifted Billy with the power of six legendary Greek figures, and when he spoke

the Wizard's name, he became an adult superhero empowered by six legendary Greek figures. Later, Captain Marvel would gain the ability to share his power with Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr., creating the Marvel Family. Today, Captain Marvel remains as one of the world's greatest heroes.

The Power of Shazam

Billy's parents - archaeologists C. C. and Marylin Batson - were killed by their treacherous assistant, Theo Adam, while on a dig at the tomb of Rameses II at Abu Simbel, Egypt. Theo Adam was the resurrected non-powered form of Teth-Adam aka Black Adam. He also kidnaps Billy's sister Mary, who ends up missing.

The wizard Shazam is made aware of all of these events, and (just as in the Fawcett origin) has Billy brought before him by the dark-clothed stranger, and grants the boy the power to become Captain Marvel. As Captain Marvel, Billy takes on the form of his late father, which is how Theo Adam guesses his identity, has a revelation about the power of Shazam, and becomes Black Adam using a scarab he stole from the tomb. After subduing Black Adam and his employer, the rich tycoon Doctor Sivana, Billy swears to find his sister as Captain Marvel.

Captain Marvel became a member of the revived Justice Society of America and was featured prominently in that group alongside his nemesis Black Adam. Captain Marvel had originally joined the team to keep an eye on Adam, who had joined the JSA claiming to have reformed. Black Adam eventually left the JSA to instigate a takeover of his home country of Kahndaq; he had a fondness for the country, and wished to see the totalitarian regime done away with, in what he saw as justice. Captain Marvel remained with the team.

JSA

During his tenure in the JSA, Marvel dated Courtney Whitmore, also known as Stargirl, which put him in an unusual position; while he could legally date

Courtney as Billy Batson, it looked very strange for the grown-up Captain Marvel to be with the teenaged Stargirl. The Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick, another JSA member, confronted Marvel about the issue. Rather than telling Garrick and the team the truth about his age, Marvel chose to follow the Wisdom of Solomon and leave the team and Courtney.

The Marvel Family played an integral part the Infinite Crisis. The climax of the Day of Vengeance saw the Spectre engaged in a cosmic-level battle with the wizard Shazam. At the conclusion of this battle, Shazam was obliterated, and the Rock of Eternity burst apart into Earth's dimension, freeing scores of ancient magicks and evils that had been captured eons ago back into the Universe.

Day of Vegeance

In the aftermath of the Day of Vengeance, Day of Vengeance, Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family then helped Zatanna and several other beings to capture the Seven Deadly Sins and rebuild the Rock of Eternity. Captain Marvel was then required to take over Shazam's role as caretaker of the Rock. Marvel was later shown fulfilling this role, although teetering on the brink of insanity, constantly talking back to the Seven Sins around him. During this time, Marvel was shown helping Black Adam grant Adrianna Tomaz the powers of the goddess Isis. Later that year, Captain Marvel presided at the marriage ceremony of Adam and Isis in Kahndaq.

52 and World War 3

Black Adam's continued attempts to reform, and depicted Adam's formation of, with Captain Marvel's blessing, a "Black Marvel Family". Joining Black Adam in the Black Marvel Family were his wife Isis and her brother Osiris. Isis and Osiris are murdered by the "Four Horsemen", creatures engineered by a team of DC's mad scientist characters (Dr. Sivana among them). As a result, Black Adam takes his revenge out on the entire world, killing

millions. Black Adam is halted for a few minutes, just the time needed for Captain Marvel to force a magic lightning bolt on him, turning Black Adam back to Teth-Adam and changing his magic word into an unknown one.

The Trials of Shazam! and Final Crisis

With Shazam dead, the Rock of Eternity chose Capain Marvel as its new caretaker. Captain Marvel recieved a new white suit and his hair became long and white, and assumed the name Marvel. form Trials of Shazam! featured Captain Marvel, now with a white costume and long white hair, taking over the role of the wizard Shazam under the name Marvel, while Captain Marvel Jr. and Mary Marvel lose their powers. A powerless Freddy Freeman is then drafted to prove himself worthy to the individual six gods evident in the "Shazam" acronym so that he can become their new champion and herald under the name Shazam, although a witch Sabina De La Croix from the Council of Merlin attempts to take the power herself, as ordered by her father Merlin. Atlas is killed by Sabina, but Apollo's healing replaces him. Marvel helps Freddy when he is trapped by the weight that Atlas bore. Later, Apollo takes Atlas's place in holding the world, while Marvel returns to the Rock of Eternity and Freddy continues his trials. The battle between Freddy and Sabina ends when Freddy is chosen to wield the gods's power, and becomes Shazam, while Sabina is destroyed. As the new

Shazam, Freddy takes Marvel's former duties as a superhero.

Justice Society of America

Marvel is ambushed by Black Adam and Isis, who are intent on taking over the Rock of Eternity. Isis robs Marvel of his powers by saying Shazam from a spell book to send lightning at him, and banishes a powerless Billy Batson back to Fawcett City, where he contacts the Justice Society for help.[1] Upon arriving at the Rock of Eternity with Billy, the Justice Society fights Black Adam and Isis.[2] Billy is abducted by the now evil Mary Marvel, who shares her powers with him and turns him into an evil teenage Captain Marvel. The evil Billy and Mary join Adam and Isis in fighting the Justice Society. However, Adam switches sides when Isis sets into action her plan to kill off humanity and destroy modern civilization. With the help of the Justice Society's Flash and the spirit of C.C Batson (Mary and Billy's father), the dead wizard Shazam's soul is retrieved from an underworld realm known as the Rock of Finality, and Adam gives up his powers to resurrect him from the statue he is imprisoned in. Shazam promptly takes his powers back from the other three Black Marvels, turns Adam and Isis into stone statues, and banishes Billy and Mary from the Rock of Eternity upon stating that they have failed him. He threatens to come after Freddy Freeman, as his powers come directly from the Gods.[3] They are later seen walking the streets of Fawcett City while homeless and pondering the fate of their father's spirit.

Blackest Night

During Blackest Night, they are living in an apartment, and comment on how scary it is not to have their powers anymore.

Shazam One-Shot

Freddy is seen with Billy and Mary in their apartment. They reminisce about the past and how Mary now feels useless without her powers. Mary is later seen assaulting Freddy, Blaze appears. The scene cuts to a homeless shelter. Blaze is seen talking to Mary. She tells Mary that if she kills Freddy, she will restore Billy and Mary's powers. It cuts back. Blaze is seen breaking her promise to Mary. Seconds later the word 'Shazam' is heard, sending Blaze rocketing through the wall. It turns out Freddy was in on it too, only pretending to get killed. Blaze and Freddy fight in the streets. Blaze punches Freddy with a ring containing liquid from the river of the Styx, which is toxic to everyone besides the residents of Hell. Billy is seen telling Mary to distract Blaze while he helps Freddy wash off the toxic water. Freddy then follows by "killing" Blaze and sending her back to Hell. Later on, Freddy tells Billy and Mary that no matter what, he will find a way to restore their powers!

Flashpoint

In an effort to save his mother's life from the Reverse-Flash, Barry Allen unknowingly changes reality, creating a new world in which his friends' lives are drastically different.

In this universe Billy Batson never becomes Captain Marvel, instead he along with five other children who were caught on a subway car that took them to the Rock of Eternity, and The Wizard Shazam instead grants the power to six children each with a different aspect of the power of Captain Marvel. An Asian-American boy named Eugene Choi possesses the wisdom of Solomon, an overweight Latino boy named Pedro Peña possesses the strength of Hercules, Mary Batson possesses the stamina of Atlas, Freddy Freeman possesses the power of Zeus, Billy Batson possesses the courage of Achilles, and an African-American girl named Darla Dudley possesses the speed of Mercury. Tawky Tawny is also shown with them on a leash held by Pedro. By saying the wizards name "Shazam" together, the six children possess the collective ability to turn into Captain Thunder, this timeline's version of Captain Marvel, who has a scarred face which he claims is due to Wonder Woman, who in this timeline is a villain.[6]

Cyborg, the Flash, Batman, Enchantress and Element Woman meet with the group of Children Known as S.H.A.Z.A.M. and ask for their help. Billy is swayed to the heroes' cause after he uses his abilities to see what the timeline is supposed to be like while stabilizing the Flash's memories, as they were adjusting to the current timeline. Billy convinces Eugene and the other children to help. They come together and shout "Shazam" and they merge into Captain Thunder. The heroes and Captain Thunder travel to what is left of Europe to stop the war between the Atlantean and the Amazons. Captain Thunder fights with the Amazon leader Wonder Woman to a draw before being transformed back into the six children by Enchantress, who is revealed to be a traitor. Before the kids can reform Captain Thunder, Billy is stabbed by the Penthesileia one of the Amazons killing the young boy.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Powers Of Shazam: The following represents the potential magical abilities available to wielders of the Power of Shazam. Even if demonstration of such abilities has not been explicitly shown in a canonical resource. Not all of the following abilities are represented by the same Deities. Variations of these powers may apply depending upon the wielder in question.

Accelerated Healing - Granted by Atlas, Shu, Apollo and Marsosh. Chosen ones have incredible amounts of durability and invulnerability however if for some reason they are harmed their unique physiology allows their physical wounds to heal and at accelerated rate. They can survive incredible amounts of damage to their bodies given enough time.

Clairvoyance - Granted by Solomon, Zehuti, Minerva and Lumiun. Chosen ones are clairvoyant to all situations. They can understand situations from many angles including futuristic and past consequences to actions. Also understood as superhuman awareness with such clarity that chosen ones can see into the future of their actions.

Divine Empowerment - All of the powers given to the chosen ones are given through Shazam and come directly from Gods. These gods include Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zues, Achilles, Mercury, Shu, Heru, Amon, Zehuti, Aton, Mehen, Menthu, Selena, Hippolyta, Ariadne, Zephyrus, Aurora, Minerva, Marsosh, Arel, Ribalvei, Voldar, Elbiam, Lumiun and Apollo. Some chosen ones are given their powers directly from the gods and chose not to go through Shazam.

Divine Grace - Granted by Achilles, Mehen, Menthu, Selena and Elbiam. Chosen ones have innate luck and divine guidance in a largely unseen way. Mostly a psychological ability, they are the chosen of the gods and therefore are in the gods' favor. Their grace allows for seeming finesse in their actions and situations.

Eidetic Memory - Granted by Solomon, Zehuti, Minerva and Lumiun. Chosen ones have photographic memory. They can remember each piece of information they learn while in their superhuman forms. With this they can study situations and reevaluate them as required. This power is used in conjunction with their clairvoyance.

Energy Projection - Granted by Zeus, Aton and Ribalvei. Chosen ones can project their transforming lightning bolts as offensive weapons. An often unconventional weapon, chosen ones have been seen striking others including other chosen ones with their called upon lightning bolts.

Energy Resistance - Granted by Zeus, Aton and Ribalvei. Chosen one's physical forms have increased resistance to all magical based attacks and can take such attacks full on without sustained damage, such as; being hit with spells from magical opponents or even the magical lightning of other chosen ones.

Enhanced Intellect - Granted by Solomon, Zehuti, Minerva and Lumiun. Chosen ones are given superhuman brain activity and are provided by counsel and guidance when needed. They are also granted knowledge of all languages, warfare, mathematics, and other scholarly knowledge.

Flight - Granted by Mercury, Heru, Zephyrus and Arel. Chosen ones can soar into the skies through an act of sheer will. They can hover completely still or effortlessly achieve sub-orbital levels and travel across the planet in blinding speed.

Healing - Granted by Zeus, Aton, Apollo and Ribalvei. Chosen ones can heal themselves or others with their magical lightning. Chosen ones can use their lightning to save victims instead of injuring them at their own will and if they take heavy damage they can call the lightning to heal themselves as well.

Hypnosis - Granted by Solomon, Zehuti, Minerva and Lumiun. Chosen ones can hypnotize anyone who looks directly at them. Hardly used by today's chosen ones this ability can be understood as a chosen one's ability to manipulate their opponents or allies for various purposes.

Indomitable Will - Granted by Achilles, Mehen, Menthu, Selena and Elbiam. Chosen ones have incredible amounts of willpower which they utilize on an almost daily usage. A psychological power, their willpower allows them to fight on despite overwhelming odds and seemingly unbeatable situations. In most cases their willpower is in excess to their innate nature of good will, however that is not always true and their will can be bent to more destructive means.

Invulnerability - Granted by Achilles, Mehen, Menthu, Selena and Elbiam. Chosen ones have incredible amounts of durability, so much so that they are considered largely invulnerable to most if not all forms of physical damage. That isn't to say that they cannot be harmed but it would require one as powerful as them to hurt them physically. Sometimes called the Courage of the Gods, it is also mostly a psychological ability allowing the chosen ones access to large amounts of willpower and grace.

Magic - Granted by Zeus, Aton and Ribalvei. Chosen ones have incredible amounts of magic. Specifically, their entire superhuman makeup s one large magical spell. Sometimes called the Power of the Gods, most chosen ones choose to use their magic through lightning bolts, transformations, resistances, enhancements, and other spells.

Multilingualism - Granted by Solomon, Zehuti, Minerva and Lumiun. Chosen ones are omnilingual and can read, write, speak and understand all languages. With this they can communicate to even aliens and other lifeforms.

Self-Sustenance - Granted by Atlas, Shu, Apollo and Marsosh. Chosen ones can survive extended and even indefinite periods of time without sleep, food, water, or air. They can even survive harsh conditions such as deserts or tundras without harm. Furthermore they can survive the void of space or gaseous zones of other planets.

Superhuman Reflexes - Granted by Zeus, Aton and Ribalvei. Chosen one's physical forms have increased physical reactions and physical attributes to allow for their feats. As such they react more quickly in fights, make quick mental decisions and increase their height, weight, muscles and mass depending on their transformation.

Superhuman Speed - Granted by Mercury, Heru, Zephyrus and Arel. Chosen ones have incredible amounts of speed which allow them to move, react, and easily move at speeds far exceeding Mach 10 within Earth's atmosphere. It is possible that other uses of their speed aside from running and flying.

Superhuman Stamina - Granted by Atlas, Shu, Apollo and Marsosh. Chosen ones have incredible stamina and endurance. They seem to be able to fight on forever and some many even survive without sustenance. If they were ever harmed their limitless metabolism would surely heal their damage.

Superhuman Strength - Granted by Hercules, Amon, Hippolyta and Voldar. Chosen ones have incredible physical strength, enough to lift at least 100 tons. They can effortlessly bend steel, punch through walls, and lift massive objects. They've also been seen able to crack the crust of planets, physically hold off multiple heroes and tear humans apart.

Teleportation - Granted by Zeus, Aton and Ribalvei. Chosen ones can teleport to locations such as the Rock of Eternity with but a thought and an action. They can only teleport to this place and only from it, they cannot teleport elsewhere or at will to other locations.

Transformation - Granted by Zeus, Aton and Ribalvei. Chosen ones almost always transform into their godlike forms from their human personas. In certain situations they don't have physical changes such as aging or sustaining an age and this can lead to theoretic immortality but once they revert to their original forms they take on whatever ailments they had sustained (such as an injured leg, aging thousands of years or having a broken arm).

Former Powers

Keeper of the Rock of Eternity (formerly): Batson formerly had been advanced to the position of the Wizard Shazam after the Wizard Shazam's spirit had been been dispersed by the Spectre. As the new Guardian of the Rock of Eternity, Billy possessed even more power then he had as "Captain Marvel". All of Batson's original magical powers as "Captain Marvel" had been increased way beyond previous levels. As the Guardian of the Rock of Eternity, Batson was one with the Rock as it is a art of him. Batson was able to channel the energies of the primal God-wave and the Greek Lords of Magic through the Rock of Eternity. In that state Marvel was infused with the duty to keep the power and the magic of the earth realm in balance. As keeper of the Rock of Eternity Marvel also held the dark forces at bay.

Inherent Omnipresence: Apparently possessing the power to be everywhere, at all times (i.e. multiple dimensions and places in time).

Inherent Omniscience: Apparently possessing the power to know anything that he chooses to know and can be known.

Inherent Omnipotence: Apparently possessing the vast magical powers, and ability to make anything he wants.

Telepathy: Ability to read the minds of others and project thoughts.

Sorcery: As the High Lord of Magic, Marvel has omnipotent mastery of magics and mysticism. He truly knows magic and can cast any spell to achieve any powerful results. He has unlimited access to Personal, Universal and Dimensional Energies.

Cosmic Awareness: Power to sense the presence of beings and objects in the universe.

Immortal

Abilities

Multilingual: Thanks to the Wisdom of Solomon, he has the ability to understand, comprehend, and speak any language on earth.

Genius-Level Intellect: He also is considered a genius among geniuses.

Smooth Talker: Another facet of his intelligence is ability to talk his way out of situations, as a man with an unprecedented amount of wisdom, he prefers to talk, rather than fight.

Strength level

Class 100 +. As Captain marvel his strength is on par with Superman. When he received the upgrade to Lord Marvel and became the keeper of the Rock of Eternity he was one of the strongest beings in the Universe.

Weaknesses

High Order Magic: Only the strongest of magics can affect him in any particular way, such as those wielded by the Spectre.

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Historama: (formerly) Shazam owned the Historama that adorns the space near his throne at the Rock of Eternity. It functions as a crystal ball, but with Incredible range and accuracy. He activates the Historama by saying, "Historama show me...". The historama has incredible material strength and provides the following abilities:

Clairvoyance

Clairaudience

Remote Sensing

Extra-dimensional Detection

True Sight

Dimensional Viewing

Temporal Viewing: ability to look into the past, and functions just like Dimensional Viewing. These powers allow the Historama to "cleave through the barriers" to show the occupants of the Rock of Eternity what transpires in other dimensions and even other times.

Batson had forgone the original historama and has opted for a more up to date version and has redirected the Rock of Eternity with a multitude of different tv screens which portrays whatever he chooses, just as the original historama.